BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh, Vinay Katiyar seems to hold a grudge against the Mughals. In October, when Sangeet Som’s remarks about the Taj Mahal sparked a huge controversy, Katiyar went on to say that the monument was originally a Shiva Temple. He went on to state that the Mughals worked on demolishing the holy places of the Hindus.
When approached by the media about his views on the Babri Masjid demolition case, the Rajya Sabha member again lashed out at the Mughals saying that there are about 6,000 religious places which were destroyed by Mughal rulers, but we have only asked for three places in return.
The controversial politician even claimed that Delhi’s Jama Masjid is built in place of Jamuna devi’s temple.
Our religious places were targeted by them. We only want that Ram Temple should be built on Ram Janmabhoomi.Vinay Katiyar
Katiyar also claimed that Congress wants to build a mosque, but ‘we’ won't let that happen. “The land belongs to us, it is lord Ram’s birthplace, people are already worshiping Ram at the spot, it is ours”, he told ANI.
If the Congress continues with their efforts of wanting to build a mosque, then we would charge to other 6,000-6,500 places of religious importance.
Amid all the noise surrounding Taj Mahal back in October, The BJP Rajya Sabha member Vinay Katiyar had back then claimed that Taj Mahal was in fact, a Shiva temple originally.
Talking to ANI, Katiyar had said that the Mughals worked on demolishing Hindu holy places.
Taj Mahal is a Shiva Mandir, the remains of our gods and goddesses are lying there. These Mughals have only worked on destroying our holy places.Vinay Katiyar, Rajya Sabha Member, BJP
He went on to further claim that the water dropping from the ceiling is, in fact, the water that used to drip on the ‘Shiv Ling’. And that they made a shrine on the ‘Shiv Ling’.
His remarks in October were not the first time Katiyar had made such controversial claims about the monument. In 2005, Katiyar told Zee News that the Taj Mahal was, in fact, a Shiva temple built by Raja Jai Singh, its name being Tejo Mai Mahal (shining palace).
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)